Title: The InterviewRating: PGCharacters/pairings: Stephen(/Jon), Tracey(/Jon)Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.

Summary: Stephen brings on a special guest to discuss tonight's top story.

"Now, I know I say that all the time anyway, but today it's actually true. The tabloids broke it, the blogosphere ran with it, and the mainstream media is still complaining about why it always hears the good gossip last.

The audience burst into enthusiastic applause, partly out of relief that they actually knew what to do. No matter what the circumstances, when a guest comes on, you clap.

Tracey favored them with a gracious wave before shaking Stephen's hand. "Glad to be here, Stephen."

"We're glad to have you," agreed the host, before getting right down to business. "Now, Tracey, were you shocked to hear about this secret affair?"

"Not particularly," said Tracey with a shrug. "I've known about it for years."

"Oh — you mean in the sense that the wife always knows something is wrong?"

"No, I mean in the sense that I agreed to it before it started."

A gasp went up from the crowd.

Tracey ignored them, keeping her attention on Stephen's shrewd gaze. It wasn't hard. He had a way of looking at you that made it feel like there was nothing else in the world but the conversation he was having.

"You agreed to it!" he exclaimed. "So the Stewarts are into three-ways, then? Or freaky orgies where you have no idea whose toes you might be sucking?"

"That sounds a little out-there for me," laughed Tracey. "Besides, between the two of us, he's the only one who wants you that way. And you don't particularly want to sleep with me, do you?"

"God, no!" said Stephen quickly. "Uh, no offense."

"None taken."

(Okay, there had been at least one night when some good-natured teasing between her and Stephen had turned into a surprisingly sexy contest. But that probably didn't count, because their full attention was on, not each other, but the man helplessly panting fragments of both of their names in the middle.

And anyway, the general public didn't need to know about that.)

"To be honest," she added, "back at the beginning, I was a little hesitant to even let you get involved with Jon. Partly because of the general idea, and partly because...well...."

"You knew I wasn't very good at sharing," offered Stephen ruefully.

"Exactly." She smiled. "But you promised to do your best. And, of course, Jon loved you. So I decided to give you a chance — and I'm glad I did. You've made us very happy, Stephen."

Stephen ducked his head to hide a blush. The audience broke into a chorus of awws.

"Well, of course," he stammered, hastily flipping through his note cards for the next question. "I make everyone happy. Obviously. Unless they hate America, or something."

He found the card and looked up again, mostly composed. "So, ah...does it bother you that you can't withhold sex as a weapon any more? I mean, since Jon can just get it on with me if you won't put out."

"I didn't do that in the first place," pointed out Tracey. "But, listen, we're not exactly a free-love commune. If Jon were to sneak off to you on one of my nights, that would be cheating. We do have rules, even though they're not the traditional ones, and we've all agreed to follow them."

Stephen's eyebrows flew upwards. "And that works?"

"It has for the past four years."

Stephen nodded thoughtfully. "So, just to be clear," he said, gesturing with his pen, "you're totally cool with the fact that I'm sleeping with your husband."

"If you can keep sharing him, I can."

"It's a deal." Stephen turned to the camera with a broad grin. "Tracey Stewart, everybody! We'll be right back."

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I actually intended it to be "Stephen", but since it's all on-camera you could see it either way =)

Did you doubt I could do happyfic? Oh ye of little faith!

...This is already hitting the limits of my comfort zone re: sexytimes with the wives, so don't count on getting that scene. (But if anyone else is inspired and wants to run with it, don't let me stop you.)

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BECAUSE OMG THEY'RE HAVING AN "AFFAIR" AND THE NEWS FOUND OUT AND TRACY AND STEPHEN ARE SHARING AND THE MENTAL IMAGES ARE SOME OF THE BEST FUCKING THINGS THAT HAVE EVER HAPPENED TO MY BRAIN! PLEASE TELL ME YOU WILL BE EXTENDING THIS SOMEHOW? EVEN IF IT'S JUST JON AND STEPHEN FLIRTING DURING A TOSS!!

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zomg, because REAL Stephen can SHARE, it works! And then fake Stephen gets to deflect from his personal life by addressing it as character and asking pointlessly absurd questions highlighting the silliness of traditional monogamy!

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As for me, I've only lately tripped into Fake News fandom and so have only lately started appreciating character Stephen as a real and complete person; I'm mostly used to watching the show as real Stephen having a good time being character Stephen and sometimes interrupting himself with giggles. :)

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You're spot-on - this is actually a stealth AU to the Expectingverse ^_~

(Or possibly a part of it. I still haven't decided whether I want them to come out eventually, or whether it would be too unrealistic. Are there any openly poly celebrities at Jon and Stephen's level of stardom?)

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I wonder how long they could pull it off... because no one would really be able to tell if it was an elaborate joke or real, or where the line was. I don't think it would be entirely unrealistic, really.

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Just commenting to say: the Smiths have an arrangement where they can (and apparently frequently do) ask for each others' permission to sleep with other people, but are not supposed to develop any feelings for their other partners beyond friendship, which is kind of poly. That would be "Smiths" as in "Will Smith", who is probably at a higher level of stardom then Jon and Stephen. From what I've seen, as long as there's a lack of drama, it gets some passing interest as something odd that celebrities do, and then attention gets refocused to things with drama, like whoever is being made to go to rehab.

Okay, there had been at least one night when some good-natured teasing between her and Stephen had turned into a surprisingly sexy contest. But that probably didn't count, because their full attention was on, not each other, but the man helplessly panting fragments of both of their names in the middle.

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Happy, happy fangirl! I have such a kink for happy!sharing, and this fandom gets so very much angst. So YAY. :D

And this?

Okay, there had been at least one night when some good-natured teasing between her and Stephen had turned into a surprisingly sexy contest. But that probably didn't count, because their full attention was on, not each other, but the man helplessly panting fragments of both of their names in the middle.

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Okay, there had been at least one night when some good-natured teasing between her and Stephen had turned into a surprisingly sexy contest. But that probably didn't count, because their full attention was on, not each other, but the man helplessly panting fragments of both of their names in the middle.

Oh, the mental image... That was absolutely lovely and made me happy. And personally I'm with those who see it as c!Stephen who's matured a bit but I could get behind both interpretations.